There were days when cars were mainly dependent on mechanical components. Nowadays, the cars are full to the brim with electrical and electronic components, Horns, headlights, infotainment systems, AC’s, ECU’s, starter motors, fuel injectors, etc. all run in electricity and require a power source. The only source present in your car for powering all these vital components is the battery. If it is not in proper condition, your car might not start. So, let us look at some of the ways to extend the life of a car battery.
Just like the battery in your laptop or mobile phone, lead-acid car batteries have a short life span and will ultimately lose their ability to hold enough charge to start your car. On average, you can expect a lead-acid battery to last for nearly 42 months, but this time-frame will vary based on several variables- like cold or hot climates, journey lengths, and the performance of your vehicle’s charging circuit. But, regardless of what conditions your car is subjected to, here are a few tips to increase the car battery lifespan.
Ways to Extend the Life of a Car Battery
Regular inspection
The battery produces electric power with a continuous chemical reaction in it. Some of the commonly used materials include acid and lead. Acid can cause greenish deposits collecting on the terminals. This is known as corrosion which interferes with the connection between the terminals and battery. If too much of corrosion gets accumulated, it destroys the terminals after which the whole battery must be changed.
To avoid corrosion, you should wipe it off every week. If the corrosion accumulation is too much, pour a mixture of water and baking soda on it. This will dissolve all the corrosion. Then, wipe off the residue using a cloth or sponge. Let the terminals get dry for a while, apply petroleum jelly to protect them from corrosion. This is considered as one of the most effective measures that will increase your car’s battery life.
Make sure the battery is safe in its place
One of the important ways to extend the life of a car battery is to ensure that the car’s battery is in the proper place. A car’s battery should be tightly secured in its mounting location. If it shakes and jostles around within an engine bay, it could cause a short circuit. It can not only damage the battery but also it can damage the electricals of the car. This could be specifically risky if you are inside the car at that time. A similar logic is applicable for the connector cables also. If they are not properly connected, the same problem will continue.
Avoid operating electronic components without switching on the ignition
Every car has a device known as an alternator which uses the rotation of the engine to charge the battery. However, the alternator only works when the engine rotates, i.e. when the car is on. When the ignition of the car is not switched on and the other electronic items like the music system or headlights are on, the battery bears the whole load. This negatively affects the life of your car battery as it cannot take this type of sustained load without the compensation by the alternator. Its main use is for small loads like the ECU or the spark plug. So, you must operate components like the headlights only after the ignition is on.
Disconnect the terminals if you need to park the car for long
Even if the car is turned off, the battery keeps on draining slowly as its terminals are connected and the circuit path is full. If you want to go out of town and leave the car parked for a long span of time, it is better to remove the battery terminals. This will help in the longevity of battery life.
Try to avoid frequent short trips
Your battery is asked to do a workout every time you start it but is then recharged by the engine during the entire journey. So, if you are driving a short distance it will not be possible for the battery to regain the amount of power which is lost- and if you repeat the procedure regularly the battery voltage will lessen steadily until it can no longer start the vehicle.
Maintain the power of your car battery by driving it frequently and for a long period of time- and if you do not use your car much, then buy a car battery charger to help maintain the right voltage.
Keep your car battery fastened
Vibration can lessen the lifespan of your car battery, so it is always better to use an approved battery clamp to make sure it is held down every time. If not fastened securely, too much vibration could damage the internal components of the battery-creating short circuits and lessening battery life.
But do not make the mistake of over-tightening the battery clamp nuts as it may damage your car battery. Instead, just tighten the nuts until you feel the resistance started, and then continue for an extra half turn.
Keep a watch on the water level
Car batteries need distilled water to keep the acid inside at a diluted level. After the continuous reaction, this water gets used after some time. When the level of water is too low, this thickens the acid.  This starts to cause corrosion from the inside which will impact your car’s battery life. So, keep a watch on the water level in the battery every few weeks and make sure you top it up whenever required.
Avoid corrosion
With time, your car’s battery terminal will start corroding. But, if you keep on top of the corrosion and keep it from building up, you will be able to extend the life of its battery. Removing the corrosion is as simple as scrubbing down the terminals by using a toothbrush or any soft brush with a mixture of baking soda and water. Ensure you clean the battery carefully. Wash with cold water and then dry using a rag.
The key is ensuring our battery is clean and dry. Batteries that are never cleaned can generate a discharge that can cause short-circulating and other kinds of damage.
Make sure the lights are switched off
One of the most important functions of a car battery is to power all the lights inside and outside of the car. But, keeping it on puts a strain on the battery.
Keep the car battery clean
One of the significant ways to extend the life of a car battery is to keep it clean. Make sure the top of your car battery is dirt-free and clean. A dirty battery can discharge across the dirt on top of the casing- creating a small, short circuit which will ultimately flatten the battery.
The battery terminals will corrode over time and avoiding any kind of buildup is a great way to extend the life of a car battery. Scrub the terminals using an old toothbrush dipped in a mixture of water and baking soda. Then, using a spray bottle having cold water, wash off the mixture, and follow up with a thorough drying with a clean cloth.
Try to reduce heat exposure
Some people believe that cold weather kills car batteries. Do you also believe in this misconception? Car batteries do have to work harder to start your engine during the winter, but the reason why so many fail during this season is mostly because of damage they sustained during the heat of the earlier summer.
Extreme heat is bad for car batteries as it increases the rate of water evaporation from the cells- even in sealed top batteries. The cold then discloses the shortcomings of the weaker battery, as lower temperatures sap the remaining cranking power as it tries to start the cold engines with thick oil.
So, if possible, try to reduce the temperature subjected to the car battery. Parking your car in the shade and keeping your vehicle in the garage when not in use are great ideas- or you can look at ways to help insulate the battery from heat produced within the engine bay.